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Police are appealing for information about the attack on popular horse “mascot” Herby outside a city centre restaurant - while some Chronicle readers have been taking a lighter approach to the story.

On the day of the Sunderland and Newcastle derby, attackers echoed the notorious horse-punch incident of derby day 2013 but this time a fibreglass victim was chosen: the life-size Herby which greets customers at the entrance to the Herb Garden on Westgate Road.

On Sunday CCTV images caught the moment it was smacked in the face and knocked over - and then shows the restaurant’s head chef Lucy Clinch take off down the street in chase of the group of three men.

The owners of the restaurant, who say Herby is its lucky mascot, fear it will cost hundreds of pounds to fix the damage.

Wearing rollerskates and legwarmers, Herby is a familiar sight and popular with both customers and passers-by who spot the horse on the approach to the High Level Bridge and often stop for photographs.

Now it will be missed as it will be repaired and moved from the doorway.

Readers took The Chronicle Facebook site with their own reaction to the news and while many were upset for Herby others were clearly horsing around.